The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-09-30

ers, and didn't they find my lady In pin
afore doing chores? Vastly polite treat
mcnt, indeed! AS II the whole worl'
didn't know that the general was takel
by surprise when my lady came riding VI
from Virginia with all those fine cavaliers
Just to see what his eXcellency was doing
ut these assembly balls. And fine doings
dare say"
"This Is but idle gossip, Thankful, '
said Capt. Brewster with the faintest up
pearance of self consciousness; "the as
sembly balls are conceived by the genera
to strengthen the confidence of the towns
folk, and mitigate the rigor of the winter
encampment. 60 there myself rarely
have but little taste for junketing and
gavotting, with my country In such need.
No, Thankful what we want is n Leaders
and the men of Connecticut feel it kecnly.
If have been spoken of in that regard"
added the captain with n slight imitation
Of his manly breast, ''it Is because they
know Of my acrifces-becatlsc as New
England yeomen they know my devotion
to the cause. They know of my suffer-
ing"-
The bright face that looked into his was
suddenly afire with womanly sympathy,
the pretty brow was knit, the sweet eyes
overflowed with tenderness. ''Forgive
me, Allan. l forgot-perhaps, love-per-
haps, dearest, you are hungry now"
"No, not now," replied Capt. Brewster,
with gloomy stoicism; "yet," he added,
sit is nearly week since have tasted
meat"
"I-1-brought few things with me, F."
continued the girl, with certain hesitat-
ing timidity. She reached down and pro-
duced basket from the shadow of the
wall. "These chickens'-she held up a
pair Of pullets-"the commander in chief
himself could not buy; kept them for
my commander! And this pot of marina
lade, which I know my Allan loves, is the
same I put up last summer. 1 thought
livery tenderly] you might like piece of
that bacon you liked SO once dear. All,
sweetheart, shall we ever sit down to our
little board? Shall we ever see the end of
this awful war? Don't you think, dear
livery pleadingly] it would be best to give
it up9 King George is not such very
bad man, is he? I've thought, sweetheart
livery confidently, that mayhap you and
he might make it all up without the aid
of those Washingtons, who do nothing
but starve one to death. And if the king
only knew you, Allan-should see you as
I do, sweetheart-he'd do just as you
say"
During this speech she handed him the
several articles alluded to; and he re-
ceived them, storing them away in such
receptacles of his clothing as were conve-
nient-with this notable difference, that
with her the act was graceful and pic
turesque; with him there was ludicrous-
ness of suggestion that his broad Shout
ders and uniform only heightened.
IT think not of myself, lass" he said,
putting the eggs in his pocket and but
toning the chickens within lis martial
breast. 81 think not of myself, and per-
haps 1 often spare that counsel which is
but little needed. But I have duty to
the marmalade up in his handkerchief
l confess have sometimV>E
might, under prov ocation, be driven to ex-
IRENE measures for the good of the cause.
l make no pretense to leadership,
butt
"With you at the head of the army"
broke in Thankful enthusiastically,
''peace would be declared within a fort
night"
There is no flattery, however outrage
Gus, that man will not accept from the
woman whom he believes loves him. He
will perhaps doubt its influence in the
colder Judgment of mankind but he will
consider that this poor creature, at least,
understands him, and in some vague way
represents the eternal but unrecognized
vcrities. And when this is voiced by lips
that are young and warm and red, it is
somehow quite as convincing as the blood
less, remoter utterance of posterity.
Wherefore the trooper complacently
buttoned the compliment over his chest
with the pullets.
81 think you must go now, Allan" she
said, looking at him with that pseudo
maternal air which the youngest of women
sometimes assume to their lovers, as if
the doll had suddenly changed sex and
grown to mans estate. you must 60
now, dear, for it may so chance that father
is considering my absence overmuch. You
will come again Wednesday, sweetheart;
and you will not go to the assemblies, nor
visit Mistress Judith, nor take any girl
pick-a-back again on your black horse;
and you will let me know when you are
hungry"
She turned her brown eyes lovingly, yet
with certain pretty trouble in the brow,
and such searching, pleading inquiry
in her glance, that the captain kissed her
at once. Then came the final embrace,
performed by the captain in a half per-
functory, quiet manner, with due regard
for the friable nature of part of his provis-
ions. Satisfying himself of the integrity
of the eggs by feeling for them in his
pocket he waved a military salute with
the other hand to Miss Thankful and was
gone. A few minutes later the sound of
his horses hoofs rang sharply from the
icy hillside.
But as he reached the summit two